The first rays of early morning sun lit across Tokyo giving just enough light to send shadows stretching across the ground. Sequestered in a particularly large shadow of a tree were two cats, their tales swishing back and forth, occasionally twining around one another as they watched a darkened window. The blue eyes of the white feline glanced worriedly at his partner.

"Are you sure?"

The question slid out before he could stop it. His partner stretched her front paws out before her arching her back low and long to ease the hurt of stiff muscles.

"All my reports point to this family. The timing is perfect, everything adds up."

Her eyes remained locked on the window where movement could be seen. Artemis followed her gaze inwardly praying that this was indeed the house. He was tired of the searching, of 16 long years of sitting under trees and looking in windows, he was tired most of all, of seeing the disappointment in those beautiful red eyes.

The minutes ticked slowly by, adding one by one into an hours, the silence was thick and broken only by the chirping of freshly awoken birds. He became so engrossed in his own worries it wasn't until Luna was almost at the doorstep that he noticed she had left. He rose to follow when his eyes fell upon the figure emerging. The girl had just finished the complicated task of pulling the front door closed and sliding on a last patent leather black school shoe at the same time when she spotted Luna. Both bodies froze. Silvery blue eyes clashed with cinnamon red. For a moment everything stopped. Then a slender pale hand reached out and scratched gently behind black ears.

"What a pretty kitty. Are you alone?"

Luna stood completely still as a voice that had died one thousand years ago washed over her. Artemis felt his jaw drop. They had found Serenity.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Endymion Chiba former heir to the throne of earth, wielder of the golden crystal, current business mogul and president of the most powerful company in Japan, was decidedly not happy. Of course if you were to talk to any of his employees, friends or especially his enemies they would tell you that Endymion was never happy. The only emotion the man portrayed was a cold ruthless logic. He was an imposing figure both revered and feared by the top of Japanese society.

He was currently being feared that exact moment by none other then the assistant to the prime minister. Kao Yishibo emptied his glass for the second time and swiped at his brow nervously. The meeting had started out pleasantly enough, and then quickly went down hill from there. Chibas eyes were like chips of blue steel as they focused on the permits in front of him.

" You are aware Kao, that my company funds the campaigning platform for Prime Minister Kihara, correct?"

Kaos' hand shook slightly as he replaced the glass onto the table. "Yes Chiba-san."

"Then I can safely assume that the Prime Minister know this as well." It was not a question.

"Y-yes Chiba-san."

"If we decide not to fund his campaign next year both you and he will be out of a very well paying position, and if I remember correctly there are some debts involved."

The assistant squirmed slightly recalling the gambling debts he had recently paid off with a loan from Chiba Enterprises. It had been jumping from the pan to the fire but times had gotten desperate. The bookies had sent people after him twice. When Chiba had offered to cover all the slips he had jumped at the chance. He would need this job and its high salary to pay off the interest alone. He nodded; sweat making his glasses slide up and down his nose.

Endymion sat back in his chair and steepled his fingers. He contemplated the papers on his desk silently.

"He has one hour."

Kao new he had just been dismissed. Quickly he rose and gathered the papers together. His hands shaking so hard he knocked over the emptied glass. Flushing red he picked it up off of the expensive Aubusson rug, he bowed twice and left taking the glass with him.

As he was sweeping out the office door he narrowly missed the tall man going in.

Malachite glanced at the small rotund man who was fleeing the office and walked over to the intercom on the wall. Pushing a small red button he hailed the secretary outside.

"Mary, please stop Kao-san and request that he leave Chiba-Sans Waterford on property."

The former general walked over to Endymion who was looking out at the city skyline. From this height the view was spectacular, as if all of Tokyo was laid out at their feet. Ironic really, seeing as how Endymion had the power to rule the entire planet at his whim.

"Kao ran out of here pretty quickly." The observation was more of a question.

"The prime Minister has decided to have a backbone. He refused to sign the land permits."

Endymion placed his right hand on the window glass adopting a casual stance.

"I take it you've sent Kao to change his perspective." There was a hint of amusement in the silver haired mans voice.

"Do you have a report." Endymions abrupt change in topic was not unusual and Malachite was not offended by the censory tone.

"The west sector was breached last night via portal window. The Youma was captured and scientifically dissected before being terminated. North, east, and south quadrants have shown no recent activity. Nephlites reading show there should be a jump in attacks with the new moon."

As Endymion listened to his first in command list the latest problems, he seethed inward. The Dark Kingdom has been getting progressively bolder in their attacks on the city. They struck particularly hard when the moon was waning or new, taking advantage of the weakened protection spell placed by the late queen. Beryl was starting to piss him off.

The ache behind his eyes he had acquired earlier that morning was starting to annoy him as well. He snapped back into the conversation when Malachite mentioned a casualty.

"I thought these men were properly trained. That was a level one youma, there should have been no casualties!"

A silver eyebrow rose at the unusual display of anger from his liege.

"Private Hito was killed in action protecting a pedestrian. He had 2 years of flawless service and left behind no family."

The fact that there had been no lose ends did little to satisfy Endymions anger.

"Double their training; I will give no more good men's lives to that Bitch." He snapped.

Up went the other eyebrow.

"Is there something bothering you my lord?"

A hand raked thru impeccably styled midnight hair, yet another uncharacteristic move from a man normally as unreadable as concrete.

"Something is happening, the earth is agitated."

He sighed and looked at his closest confidant. "My friend I fear the darkness in me has become restless. I am losing control of it."

Inwardly malachite cringed. Like all men Endymion had both light and darkness inside. The golden crystal that was his birthright amplified the darkness to an unstable amount. Normally the Prince had an iron fist control over his emotions, but if her were to lose that control a destroyer un paralleled would be unleashed.

Endymions cold blue eyes bored into him.

"Call the others."